This morning started with this lovely coffee service at the safari vehicle and the announcement that it looked like the wind had died down, so we were off to Oliphants Rest Camp which is on the Oliphants River (Oliphants = Elephants).
Andrew (Safari Guide) is serving the coffee. Welsh Dave is wandering back & forth in front of the camera. Mary is on the right and Vince is the one speaking off-screen.
Some context before - This is a map of the entire Kruger National Park -- the green lines demark the part of the park we visited.
This is an inset of the part we visited along with each day's route in a different color
This is detail of the route for the day
Again I will start with the animals
Giraffes
We stopped because there were several cars stopped for these
Black-backed Jackal (that is fur on their backs)
But what they were really looking at is the Lions -our first look
African Buffalo (Yellow-billed Oxpecker hitchhikers)
Waterbuck (with Impala)
A closer look - Black-backed Jackal
Steenbok
This Spotted Hyena walked right down the road and past us -- on the wrong side of the road for me to photo -- this is actually through the windshield.
Warthog
and of course -- Elephants
Now to the birds
Common Buzzard
Black-crowned Tchagra
Bateleur -- means acrobat because they rock back and forth when they fly, like a tight rope walker.
Yellow-billed Oxpecker gets its close-up
Southern Ground Hornbill
Rattling Cisticola -- named for its "sound" - it Rattles!
Sabota Lark
Lilac-breasted Roller
Lesser Gray Shrike
Lesser Spotted Eagle
In the beginning of the day, Andrew asked me what my #1 target bird was. Easy - Secretary Bird -- I even tried to manifest it by painting it.
We missed it on the East Coast, so he was my only hope. He frowned and said there are only six pairs in the park, and we aren't even going to most of the park. He added I only see it on about 25% of my tours, but will give it our best shot. This was the result...
Shortly after 8AM Andrew spotted not one, but TWO Secretary Birds. They we're really close or in good light, but they were "hunting" and shortly after we spotted them. One started stomping on the ground. Apparently this is how they kill prey, in this case a snake. After a few moments it grabbed the snake an swallowed it whole. We never determine what species the snake was. We spent a good long time with those birds and I was a happy Birder
Secretarybird - BTW they are about 4.5 feet tall -- Big birds
Stomping
This is a video I found that shows Secretarybird stomping with a rubber snake. Kind of cruel, but really interesting.
We took a breakfast break at Oliphants Rest Camp - the restaurant overlooks the river, although it was too windy to sit outside I did manage to remember to get a video
Before we departed for the rest of the drive, I found this Antherina moth in the parking lot for Welsh Dave who is a big fan.
Black-backed Jackal
Kudo
Spotted Hyena
Steenbok
Zebra
African Buffalo
Waterbuck
Kudu
Waterbuck
Savanna Elephant
Giraffe
Water Monitor
Young Crocodile
Older Crocodile
This is one Andrew called over --
Orange-tip Butterfly
Now on to the second phase of birds
Waterbirds:
White-crowned Lapwing
Yellow-billed Stork
Saddle-billed Stork
Little Egret
Gray-headed Gull
Fulvious Whistling Ducks
Common Greenshank
Crowned Lapwing
Common Greenshank
Now the Land & Sky birds
African Gray Hornbill
African Eagle-Hawk
Black Kite
Blacksmith Lapwing
Emerald Spotted Wood-dove
Golden-breasted Bunting
Greater Blue-eared Starling
Green-backed Camaroptera
Green-winged Pytilia
Greater Blue-eared Starling
Laughing Dove
Lesser Masked Weaver
Lilac-breasted Roller
Rattling Cisticola
Red-billed Oxpeckers hitching a ride on a Giraffe
Red-crested Bustard
Red-faced Mousebird
Sabota Lark
Tawny-flanked Prinia
Southern Yellow Hornbill
Yellow-billed Oxpecker
At @1pm I spotted another Secretarybird -- this time closer, on the correct side of the road (for me) and more cooperative, it hung around for @15 minutes. As you might imagine there are a LOT of photos, so please indulge me. Or skip to the end for a little more about the Rest Camp. I really love this species!
Secretarybird!
My last look at this Secretarybird -- I love that its Black head feathers are flying. We were back in the camp for a rest-bit and dinner. Here is what the Rondaveli actually looked like.
We heard an African Scops-Owl at dinner and then went on a night drive - which was run by the Camp on a truck so we didn't have our own vehicle. I didn't take my camera because I just wanted to experience it without worrying about taking a photo. I regret it just a little because most of the animals were far away and we didn't see any new birds. We did have several Lions lying in the road (which they do at night for warmth) and Mary happen to drop her phone when we were right next to them. The driver was very accommodating and got out to retrieve it -- YIKES!
We also saw some new animals Wahlberg's Epauletted Fruit Bat, Slender Mongoose, Common Genet
Blotched Genet, African Civet, African Wild Cat & Nyala. It was long, cold & uncomfortable for those who had to hold up the searchlight -- but I'm glad we did it. It was very cool being beyond the gates at night when lots of creatures are more active.
Early start again tomorrow.
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